Radical instrument approach plate design: map dimensionality and frame of reference

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare a more radical design of instrument approach plates with a more traditional representation. Thirty subjects, 25 males and 5 females, were divided into two groups of fifteen for assignment to the map frame of reference condition (fixed or rotating maps). Each subject flew eight landing approaches, four with the two-dimensional display and four with the three dimensional displays. Subjects were given two primary tasks: fly the aircraft to minimize flight path deviations, and answer questions related to measures of situation awareness. The results indicated that the two separate display panels in the two-dimensional display were superior to the three-dimensional display in regards to the dependent measures of flight control and judgment tasks. Furthermore, the rotating map supported flight control better than the fixed map while there was relatively no difference for measures of situation awareness. It is apparent that acceptance of three-dimensional displays for approach plates is dependent on further investigation in this domain